Chama Steam VI Classic

Chama Steam is an annual photo charter put together by Jay Wimer (of the Goat), in cooperation with the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad and Bob Manthey-Zorn of Chama’s Trackside Emporium. The first trip was back in 2002, with subsequent excursions at least planned every year after that. However, due to the precarious position of the railroad, both from a financial, operator contract, and state of equipment point of view, in many of those interveining years, many of those planned trips wound up cancelled. With the railroad on the rebound, however, Chama Steam V (2006) turned out to be a spectacular success. Three weeks ago, I rode the first of the pair of Chama Steam VI photo freights – the so-called “Fall Madness” trip that ran from Chama to Antonito and back. This weekend (Friday-Saturday, October 19-20, 2007) was the Chama Steam VI Classic trip.

The Chama Steam Classic runs from Chama up to Osier and back, as has been done in previous years (hence the “Classic” part). I didn’t ride this one, but chased instead. In the interest of getting photos up fast, I’m not going to say much more. It was a spectacular triple-headed freight from Chama to Cumbres, followed by a run to Osier with only a single engine. Back from Osier was a double-header as far as Cumbres, and then the two halves ran as separate sections down the hill. It was every bit as spectacular as the one I was on several weeks ago, and you’ll get a different perspective this time.

Friday, Oct 19, 2007

Saturday, Oct 20, 2007


All photographs in this trip report were taken with a Canon EOS 40D using either a Canon 24-105mm F4 L IS/USM or a Canon 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS/USM.

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